Folding hood



Dec. 22, 1942. 1 BQLSEY 2,305,665

FOLDING HOOD Filed Dec. 3l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheeil l INVENTOR:

y Dec. 22, 1942. J, BOLSEY 2,305,665

FOLDING HOGD Filed Dec. 3l, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR facgaas a/se Y Patented Dec. 22, 1942 FOLDING 11001) Jacques Bolsey, New York, N. Y.

Application December 31, 1940, Serial No. 372,508 In Switzerland November 8, 1940 l14. Claims.

My present invention relates to cameras equipped with viewing devices, and particularly to reflex cameras with a viewing device on the camera top and a folding hood adapted to form a light shaft and to increase thereby the visibility of the image on the focusing screen of this viewing device.

It is an object of my present invention to provide for a folding hood which can be easily and quickly closed. V

It is anothervobjeet of my invention to provide for a folding hood which can be closed by one single tilting movement of the camera operator.

It is stili another object of my invention to provide a folding hood in which al1 wall sections of the hood can be brought into closed position by folding down one of them.

It is a further object of my invention to arrange these wall sections along the four edges of a rectangular viewing device, e. g., a rectangular focusing screen and to fold down the wall section on this viewing device juxtaposed one on the other.

In accordance with my present invention I attain the above objects by providing for a folding hood with hinged spring-opened wall sections and by shapingand positioning two or more of these wall sections directly cooperating with each other in such a manner that by folding down one of these wall sections the other wall sections are automatically folded down too.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of my invention I arrange the spring-opened wall sections along the edges of a rectangular viewing device, e. g., focusing screen in such a manner that during folding down of one of the wall sections, an edge portion of each of the other Wall sections slides along the inner face of the first wall section, thereby folding down these other wall sections automatically and simultaneously with the first Wall section; in such arrangements, it is of utmost importance that in opened positioni. e., when the closing wall section, bymovement of which the other wall sections are operated, and also these other wall sections, are openedge portions of each of these other Wall sections be in contact with the inner face of said closing Wall section. This means that if I have three cooperating wall sections, an edge portion of each of the second and third wall sections has to be in contact with the inner face of the first Wall section, and that if I have four cooperating Wall sections, an edge portion of CTI the inner face of at least one of the second and third wall sections.

The novel features which I consider as characteristic for my invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments, when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a folding hood with three cooperating wall sections and a separate cover, in opened position;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the folding hood shown in Fig. 1, during closing;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the same folding hood, in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a top view of the folding hood shown in Figs. 1 3;

Fig. 5 is a cross-section line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-section of the folding hood shown in Fig. 5, in closed position;

Fig. 7 is an exploded viewofthe folding hood shown in Figs. 1-6;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a folding hood with four cooperating wall sections;

Fig. 9 is a top View of the following hood shown in Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is an exploded view of the folding hood shown in Fig. 8, and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another embodiment of my new folding hood.

The folding hood shown in Figs. l-7 is attached to top wall I0 of camera casing I over the focusing screen II and the magnifying lens 33 of the viewing device. Three wall sections, i. e., the middle wall section I2 and the side wall sections I3 and I4 are secured by hinges l5 to the hood base I6, rigidly secured by screws I1 to top wall l0. They are forced into open position by springs I8, as shown in Figs. 5 and 7.

Besides these three wall sections, a cover I8 is arranged secured by hinges I9 to top wall I0 and adapted to cover all wall sections I2, I3 and Il in folded-down position, as shown in Fig. 6.

The main characteristic features of my present invention consist in the shape and arrangement of the wall sections: as shown in the drawings, each of these wall sections has a concave-convex shape and they are arranged in such a way that in opened position the edge portions 20 are in contact with the inner concave face of the Wall section I2 and that during the the fourth'wall section has to be in contact with 55 folding dOWn these edg POltiOIlS Slide along the concave face, as shown in Fig. 2. By arranging these wall sections in the way shown in Fig. 4, this means, by using a wail section |2 with a concave inner face, by arranging each of the wall sections I3 and I4 at an angle of at least I also propose to connect, if required, cover Il with wall section I2 by a lever system adapted to move also wall section I2 by moving of cover 90. to wall section i2, and by maintaining the edges 20 of wall sections`|3 and I4 permanently, i. e., when in open position and during folding in contact with the inner face of wall section I2, I attain the main object of my present invention: It is possible to fold down all three wall sections simultaneously and lautomatically by folding down wall section I2 only.

I want to note that I may shape the wall sections |3 and I4 as vparts of a spherical surface;

it should. however, be stressed that I may also use plane wall sections instead of spherical wall sections I3, I 4.

ical shape also to these wall sections, facilitating thereby closing of the hood and superposing these sections over the magnifying lens 33.-y

'Ihe above description of the folding hood,

shown in Figs. 1 to 7, seems clear enough; therefore, these figures will be understood Withouti further explanation and need ly a detailed description.

The folding hood shown in Figs.v 8-10 coin-' y prises four wall sections 2|, 22, 23 and 24(` As shown in these figures, I use four sphericaL-i. e.,

They also would give a satisfactory result; I prefer, however, to give a spher` f I l. As wall section I2 operates the wall sections I3 and I4, I may, in this case, operate by movement of cover i8 all three wall sections I2, I3 and I4 simultaneously with cover I8, and thus close or open the folding hood by operating of the cover I 3 only.

As shown in Fig. l1, I may use .also a folding hood with spring-closed wall sections instead of with spring-opened sections; in this case the springs 34 are arranged in such a. way that they tend to close the hood by moving the wall sections 'in the direction indicated by arrows 35;

it is evident that this hood will close automati- ,v cally and, therefore, I must provide means by 'which to open the hood against the action ol fspring 34 and to keep the hood, i. e., its wall sections, in `opened position. For this purpose I profvideprojection part section '31 by means thisvva'll section in direction of arrow 33, push- 36 on the innermost wall of which I am able to tilt ing therebyv the other wail sections also into l 'opened pcsition. not each separate-` k*tions have to'be lretained in this opened posi- During viewing and focusing, the hood section. 'f rherefore, I provide a blocking member, s e. g. i, afspr i ng. 39, engaging projection 36 when v30 concave-convex, wall sections and arrange these wall sections in such a manner that in their open position portions of the edges 25 and 26.A

of the wall sections 22 and 23 are incontact withgi" the inner concave face of wall section 2|, vand f one or both of the edges 21 and 28 of wall section` 24 is,\or are, in contact with the inner concave"v faces o f wall sections 22 and 23. In connection. f with this embodiment of my invention I wantl to note, too, that althoughvI have shown four 40 spherical wall sections, I may use three sphericaly f' wall sections 2|, 22 and 23 only, and use a plane or otherwise shaped wall section instead 'of spherical wall section 24.

This folding hood is closed by folding down of wall section 2| 1n the direction indicated byY yarrow 29: By folding down of this wall section, portions of the edges 25 and 2l are forced to .slide along the inner surface of section 24 andl to fold down the wall sections 22 and. 2 3 also; Aby folding down these wall sections 22' and23 portions of the edges 21 and 28 of wall section f locking means 3| for holding section wall 2|, and

therebyall yfour Vwall sections, in closed, folded'- down' position. These'locking means lmay be of f-i la usual-type,` e. g., locking means operating aut'ok f matically when section wall 2| is folded down, blocking it in its closed position. I, furthermorq; provide means 32 fo'r releasing the 'closed wall described'above, or two or also find a useful application in other types of ffullyreveal the gist of .can by applying current suchadaptations should c :ornpre-hended within the meaning and range o! thelatter'yis open. This spring 39 must be so f strong-fasjtofkeep the M -ill sections in opened position against the' action of springs 34.

order to close the hood I exert pressure `-'against the wall section 31 in the direction indicated by arrow 4|| and close this section against :action of spring 38.- By closing this wall secttgn, all other sections are closed automatically,

rwant to emphasize that also this embodiment of my invention should be covered by the following` claims.

It will be understood that each of the elements more together, may

reflex cameras with viewing devices differing from thetypes described above.

While I have illustrated and described the inlvention as embodied in reflex cameras with viewing devices, Ido not intend to be limited to the details shown, since various modications and vvstructural changes may be made without depart- .jing in any way from the spirit of my invention.

Without-further analysis, the foregoing will so my invention that others knowledge readily adapt itfor various applications without omitting fea- 'tures that,from the standpoint of prior art, fairly 1 constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore and are intended to be section by putting locking means 3| outof action.

, Although, I have shown only wall sections cofu operatingv directly, e. g., by slidingof an edge of for! motion-transmitting 1neans,"e.y g.. a rvlever syst'e'm`-tof achievev the requiredv siniultaneousv movemeriifthe wallfectina one `wall section on vthe face of another ,wallv r sectiomiIwantto note that I mayv alsofprovide equivalencyof the follpwing claims.

J lWhat -I claim as.

new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

I f if. In'.y av reflex camera a viewing device on the a folding hood adapted to form said viewing device and comprishinged spring-opened wall sections*adapteltov lie, when closed, in juxtaposition to each other, the rst of said wall sections having .'afeoncave inner face and positioned in relation to the'otherwall section in such a manner that when' open, an tionis'incontact `with the inner concave face of wall section and that during folding edge portion of the other wall secdown of said first wall section, said edge portion slides along said inner concave face of said iirst wall section so that said other wall section is folded down automatically and simultaneously with the folding down of said first wall section.

2. In a reflex camera a viewing device on the top wall of the camera, a folding hood adapted to form a rectangular light shaft for said viewing device and comprising four hinged spring-opened wall sections adapted to form, when opened, the four walls of said rectangular light shaft and when closed to lie in juxtaposition to each other, at least the first, second and third of said wall sections having a concave inner face and the rst of said section positioned in relation to the second and third wall sections and at least one of said latter wall sections positioned in relation to the fourth wall section in such a manner that when open, an edge portion of each of said second and third wall sections is in contact with the inner concave face of said first wall section and at least one edge portion of said fourth wall section is in contact with the inner concave face of at least one of said second and third wall sections, and that during folding down of said first wall section edge portions of said second and third wall sections slide along the inner concave face of said first wall section and at least one edge portion of said fourth wall section slides along the inner concave face of at least one of said second and third wall sections, so that said sec ond, third and fourth wall sections are folded down automatically and simultaneously with folding down of said first wall section.

3. In combination with a folding hood for cameras, according to claim 2, locking means adapted to hold said first Wall section in foldeddown position.

4. In combination with a folding hood for cameras, according to claim 2, locking means adapted to hold said first wall section in foldeddown position, and means for releasing said locking means at will of the operator of said camera, opening thereby the folding hood by action of said spring.

5. In combination with a folding hood, according to claim 12, a separate tightly closing cover adapted to be folded down over said wall sections when they are in folded-down position, to hold thereby said wall sections in this position and to avoid soiling of said viewing device.k

6. In combination with a folding hood, according to claim l2, a separate tightly closing cover adapted to be folded down over said wall sections when they are in folded-down position, and means connecting said cover with said first wall section adapted to fold down said first wall section when said cover is closed.

7. In combination with a folding hood, according to claim 12, a separate tightly closing cover adapted to be folded down over said Wall sections when they are in folded-down position, and a lever system connecting said cover and said first wall section adapted to fold down said first wall section, by closing of said cover, thereby closing all wall sections simultaneously with the closing of said cover.

8. -In a reiiex camera a viewing device on the top Wall of the camera, a folding hood adapted to form a rectangular light shaft for said viewing device and comprising four hinged spring closed wall sections adapted to form, when opened, the four walls of said rectangular light shaft and when closed to lie superposed on each other, at least a second, third and fourth of said wall sections having a concave inner face and the first of said wall sections positioned in relation to the second and third wall sections and at least one of said latter wall sections positioned in relation to the fourth wall section in such a manner that during opening of said first wall section edge portions of said first wall section slide along the inner concave faces of said second and third wall sections and at least one edge portion of said second and third wall sections slides along the inner concave faces of said fourth wall section, so that said second, third and fourth wall sections are opened simultaneously and automatically with opening of said first wall section.

9. A folding hood as claimed in claim 8, comprising a projecting member for opening said first wall section and means for locking said first wall section in opened position.

10. In a reflex camera including a viewing device on the top of said camera, a folding hood comprising at least two hinged wall sections, at least one of which has an inwardly curved inner face, said wall sections being adapted to lie when in closed position superimposed upon each other on said viewing device and to stand in opened position at a certain angle to the top of said camera, forming thereby a light shaft for said viewing device, springs forcing said wall sections from one of said positions into the other, said wall sections being shaped and positioned relative to each other in such a manner that during moving of a wall section against the action of said springs, an edge portion of one of said wall sections is in permanent contact with the inwardly curved inner face of the other of said wall sections and slides along said inwardly curved inner face.

11. In a refiex camera including a viewing device on the top of said camera, a folding hood comprising at least two hinged wall sections, at least one of which has a concave inner face, said wall sections being adapted to lie when in closed position superimposed upon each other on said viewing device and to stand in opened position at a certain angle to the top. of said camera, forming thereby a light shaft for said viewing device, springs forcing said wall sections from one of said positions into the other, said wall sections being shaped and positioned relative to each other in such a manner that in that position into which said wall sections are forced by said springs, an edge portion of one wall section is in contact with said inner concave face of the other wall sections and that during manual moving of a wall section against the action of said springs, said edge portion is sliding along said concave face, whereby also the not manually moved wall section is compelled to move automatically and simultaneously with the manually moved wall section in the same direction.

12. In a reflex camera a viewing device on the top of the camera, a folding hood adapted to form a light shaft for said viewing device and comprising at least two hinged spring-opened wall sections adapted to lie, when closed, in juxtaposition to each other, the first of said wall sections having a concave inner face and positioned in relation to the other wall section in such a manner that during folding down of said first wall section an edge portion of said other wall section is in permanent contact with the inner concave face of said first wall section and forced to slide along the same, so that said other wall section is folded down automatically and simultaneously with the folding down of said first wall section.

13. In a reflex camera, equipped with a viewing device on the top of said camera. a folding hood comprising at least a firstr and a second wall section, said wall sections adapted to lie when in closed position superimposed upon each other on said viewing device and to stand in opened position at a certain angle'to the top of said camera, forming thereby a light shaft for said viewing device, springs forcing said wall sections from opened into closed position, said second wall section having a concave inner face and positioned in relation to said first wall section in such a manner that during folding up of said first wall section, an edge portion of said first wall section is in permanent contact with the inner concave face of said second wall section and forced to slide along the same so that said second wall section is folded up automatically and simultaneously with the folding up of said first wall section.

14. In a refiex camera equipped with a viewing device on the top of said camera, a folding hood comprising at least a first and a second hinged wall section adapted to lie when in closed position superimposed upon each other on said viewing device and to stand in opened position at a certain angle to the top of said camera. springs forcing said wall sections from opened into closed position, said second wall section having a concave inner face and positioned in relation to said first wall section in such a manner that when closed an edge portion of said first wall section is in contact with the inner concave face of said second wall section and that during folding up of said first wall section, said edge portion of said first wall section is forced to slide along said inner concave face of said second wall section so that said second wall section is folded up automatically and simultaneously with the folding up of said iirst wall section.

JACQUES BOLSEY. 

